title: Early regular egg exposure in infants with eczema: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Observational studies suggest that early regular ingestion of allergenic foods might reduce the risk of food allergy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine whether early regular oral egg exposure will reduce subsequent IgE-mediated egg allergy in infants with moderate-to-severe eczema.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial infants were allocated to 1 teaspoon of pasteurized raw whole egg powder (n = 49) or rice powder (n = 37) daily from 4 to 8 months of age. Cooked egg was introduced to both groups after an observed feed at 8 months. The primary outcome was IgE-mediated egg allergy at 12 months, as defined based on the results of an observed pasteurized raw egg challenge and skin prick tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high proportion (31% [15/49]) of infants randomized to receive egg had an allergic reaction to the egg powder and did not continue powder ingestion. At 4 months of age, before any known egg ingestion, 36% (24/67) of infants already had egg-specific IgE levels of greater than 0.35 kilounits of antibody (kUA)/L. At 12 months, a lower (but not significant) proportion of infants in the egg group (33%) were given a diagnosis of IgE-mediated egg allergy compared with the control group (51%; relative risk, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.38-1.11; P = .11). Egg-specific IgG4 levels were significantly (P < .001) greater in the egg group at both 8 and 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Induction of immune tolerance pathways and reduction in egg allergy incidence can be achieved by early regular oral egg exposure in infants with eczema. Caution needs to be taken when these high-risk infants are first exposed to egg because many have sensitization already by 4 months of age.
authors.affiliation: School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. debbie.palmer@uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Debra J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Metcalfe
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makrides
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Christina E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Prescott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004485:Eczema / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D021181:Egg Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004531:Eggs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004527:Egg Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Allergy prevention; IQR; Interquartile range; Kilounits of antibody per liter; RR; Relative risk; SPT; Skin prick test; complementary feeding; eczema; egg; food allergy; kU(A)/L; oral tolerance; randomized controlled trial